Marseille Méditerranée Market: Modernization Underway

The Marseille Méditerranée Market (MMM) is unique in that it encompasses both the Arnavaux Fruit, Vegetable, and Flower Market and the Saumaty Fishing Port. The Arnavaux Market covers an area of 22 hectares, is home to 140 businesses—including 10 importers—and supports 1,500 jobs and 265 producers. The market’s annual volume of business is approximately 780,000 metric tons. The Port of Saumaty is currently home to about thirty fishing boats and several innovative maritime activities.

Modernization Underway

The Aix-Marseille Metropolitan Area, which administers the market, plans to transform the MMM into an even more central player in food security for the Marseille metropolitan area. “We are working to modernize the two sites, whose structures are over 50 years old,” says its director, Didier Ostré. A study is currently being conducted on the Arnavaux Market with the goal of establishing a “B2C” last-mile urban logistics hub. “There is currently no B2C urban logistics hub in Marseille,” says Mr. Ostré.

Becoming a key player for local governments as well

The city also plans to establish a school kitchen, with the goal of decentralizing meal production—by district—for the city’s 485 schools, to ensure greater freshness and appeal. “Currently, the 55,000 daily school meals we need are prepared by a centralized kitchen 72 hours in advance and then reheated,” explains Mr. Ostré.

More “Blue Economy” Activities

The modernization of the fishing port involves restructuring its 7-hectare site and establishing other “blue economy” activities. “For example, we’re hosting a young startup specializing in seawater desalination through cryogenization,” explains Didier.

Local Products and a Digital Platform

Food self-sufficiency and reducing carbon emissions are among the goals of supporting local production. To achieve this, the MIN in Marseille is establishing regional partnerships to increase the flow of local products to Marseille. “For example, we’re looking to form an economic interest group (GIE) with the town of Sainte-Étienne-du-Grès, which is the largest local market near Arles,” reveals Didier. A digital platform will be created to bring together all operators’ offerings and promote e-commerce. A digital marketplace platform is set to launch in 2027, with a six-month trial period. The goal is to connect all offerings from operators and producers with professional buyers, while integrating B2B and B2C logistics services.

For more information on the Marseille market and its developments , click here.